Chain-tightener.



P. J. GINLEY.

CHAIN TIGHTENER. .APPLlcMloNflLED MAR.29,1911.

Patented Nov. 5,1918.

l r m .l. I zal A attazvmgm y their overlapping PATRICK J.' GINLEY, orPITTsToN, PENNSYLVANIA. cruiIN-TIGrHTENER.`

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 5, 1918.

Application led March 29,1917. Serial No. 158,240.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. GINLEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Pittston, county of Luzerne,

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Chain- Tighteners, of which the following is a full and clearspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivetightener for chains used on motor vehicle wheels which will. increasethe durability of the wheel as well as the tractive power thereof andalso prevent skidding, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a wheelprovided with my invention;

FFigi. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the links.

At each side of the wheel, at a point inwardly of the tire, I arrange achain formed of strong flat 'links a, pivoted together at ends and eachprovided midway of its ends with a bolt hole b. Pivotally connected tothe links at said holes by means of bolts a is a series of tread archesd which fit around the tread surface of the t1re when the same isinflated, these tread arches consisting of plates which have broadbearing upon the tread surface of the tire.

Each of these tread arches is provided on its tread surface with acentral rib e which extends radially with respect to the wheel andtransversely of Jthe tire tread. The outer edge of the rib e is'concaved at f to thereby form two entering points g at its outer corners.' These ribs e` materially increase the tractlve power, especiallin soft ground and mud, and the points g ite into the surface of hardroad beds and thus prevent skidding.

The tread arches may bel secured to as many of the desired. If they aresecured to all the links, it will be observed that they form not onlysecure anti-skid means and `traction means, but also serve as a sort ofcover or armor for the tire, to thereby prevent wearof the tread surfaceproper of the tire. The ends'of the chains are secured topivotally conp,

gether by a bolt la; which is nec at one end to means of a clip e',nected to said link by pivot bo the adJacent link by t j. The pivvon thebolt is adapted to force .nut n into the hook end of the'plate aand vofthe hook plate o against' the 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.v

chain, means for detachabl -other end of the bolt to the adjacent end ofwhich chp is ima-ny conotal connection between the bolt k and the clip zis a radially arranged bolt' lo which passes through an eye Z on the endof the bolt. The opposite or free end of the bolt is threaded, and onthis threaded end is screwed stop nut m.v Beyond the stop nut isarranged a bearing nut n which is convex on one side to lit into acorrespondingly shaped hook o connected to the adjacent link of thechain by a rivetA pivot p. The hook plate o is slotted at g for thepassage of the olt, and nut r the bearing thus tighten the chain. Thetightening of the cham will bring the inner or convex face stop nut mand thus rigidly lock the parts together. The nut m-is adjustable topermit the chain to be nicely adjusted Vto wheels that vary slightly insize.

The stop nut mis prevented from turning by means of a stop plate s whichis fastened to one end of f: which forms a pivotal connection betweenthe bolts L and the clip z'. This stop plate s has a radial extension tto which is connected one end of one of the tread arches d. By thusproviding means at the joint of the chain for attaching atread arch, itwill be seen that I provide against any break in the spacing ofthe treadarches around the tire.

4 It will be understood that otherV types of the clip z' by theaforesaid bolt anti-skid devices may be attached to the' chains.A Thenature and scope of the Invention having been thus indicated and itsreferred embodiment having been specificay described, what is claimed asnew is: I

In adevice of the class set forth, a pair of chains, chains adjustablyconsisting of abolt connected at one end pivotally to' one end of the yconnectlng the the chain embodying a hook pivotally connected vt0 thechain, a sto nut on the bolt adapted to. abut the hoo and means forpreventing said stop nut rotating on the bolt whlle in abutting relationto the hook.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alix my signature.

PATRICK X J. GINLEY.

man:

witness to mark:

lTnos. S. Lome.

means for connecting the ends of the ros

